The drill allows you to engrave, cut plastic and non-thick sheets of metal (aluminum, brass, bronze), make holes, drill and much more. This is a universal device that most of us know from the dentistry office. For lovers of tinkering with homemade products, the interesting question will be how to make a drill with your own hands. This will be our article.
What is the device
The drill is a tool whose principle of operation is based on the rotation of the shaft. This shaft is called a spindle. It rotates at a very high frequency, but the torque remains at a small value. Thanks to this, the tool is able to work on a small scale. As a rule, the speed can be adjusted. Due to this, the range of work performed is increasing. If we talk about factory options, then they come with a set of additional drills, knives and other nozzles. If you make a drill with your own hands, then a similar set can be purchased separately in the shops of the city or make an order through the online store.
Purpose and scope of the tool
Wide area of application of the drill. They are used in dentistry, industry (in particular, in instrument making), for carving on wood or bone, in the manufacture of jewelry.
A self-made drill on wood will allow threading, making small holes, grinding parts. Of course, you can do without it. But in this case, the work will take much more time. When replacing nozzles for decorative types of work with other types of work (knives, drills, etc.), a good milling machine or, for example, a circular saw can be obtained from the apparatus.
Machine device
Making a drill with your own hands is not difficult. Just for starters, you need to understand how it works. So, among the main elements of the tool, the following can be distinguished:
The power supply controls the entire process. Depending on the type of tip, it can be collector and brushless. If the design involves the presence of a collector assembly through which rotational motion is supplied to the rotor, then we speak of a brush type of tip. Accordingly, if there is no such assembly in the design of the tool, then the tip is called brushless, and the power supply is called brushless.
When choosing between the collector and brushless type of power supply, you need to remember one feature. The fact is that the collector motor has a limit on the number of revolutions. This limit is at a high level, but it exists. In this case, the collector version is simpler to manufacture and use than brushless. And the price for it is lower.
The brushless motor, in turn, has several advantages. It has a more complex electrical circuit, but it allows you to perform additional functions. For this type of rotation speed is at a higher level. Adjusting the speed is easier. Regardless of its value, the torque is maintained at the desired level. Due to this, even at low speeds, the nozzle will not slow down when it comes in contact with the surface of the part. These characteristics need to be considered when creating a do-it-yourself drill.
Drill from the washing machine engine
The easiest option for making a drill with a flexible shaft with your own hands is to use the engine from the washing machine. Its functions will be minimal, but they will be enough for many users. A feature of this option is that the engines of washing machines have low revs. In most cases, this value does not exceed 10 thousand.
First, the engine itself needs to be mounted on a table or other frame. It is even possible on a piece of plywood so that the instrument can be carried. The engine is electric, so you need to provide for a network connection.
A flexible shaft is attached to the motor shaft. To do this, you can use a rubber pulley, which, among other things, will protect the shaft from damage during operation. Part of it is also fixed on plywood, so that during work it does not hang out. On the other side of the flexible shaft, a tip is attached. The easiest way to buy a shaft with a tip is already ready.
We use a drill
A do-it-yourself drill from a drill is another interesting option. Functionality in this case will be much higher. This is due to the fact that most often the electric drill has a rotation frequency in the region of 3 thousand revolutions.
The drill is best secured in a vice. To do this, you need to make a simple device, on one side of which a drill will be installed. The second end will be fixed in a vice. In this case, it is necessary to provide an emphasis in which one end of the flexible shaft will be fixed.
As a flexible shaft, you can use a braided cable, for example, from a car speedometer. It will need a sliding bearing and collet clamp. But the easiest way is to order a ready-made hose in the store, the quality and durability of which will be much higher than that of a home-made one. In this case, it will not be necessary to adjust the shaft to the drill. In the event that the drill cartridge cannot hold the edge of the hose, it will be necessary to shorten the cup with thread on its end.
If you buy a flexible shaft ready, then for the manufacture of a drill with your own hands you will need to prepare only the mount. Another advantage of this option is the collet clamp, which will be on the hose, suitable for standard burs (they can be purchased at the store).
Blender drill
With your own hands, you can assemble the tool using various electric motors. Hand blender is no exception. The principle is the same as when using an electric drill.
To get started, you must open the housing to get to the rotor shaft. To connect with a flexible shaft, it is necessary to make an adapter, which will be fixed by a bolt. An example of it can be seen in the photo above.
The use of a flexible shaft is optional. You can do without it. In this case, it is necessary to prepare a cartridge that will be securely fixed to the blender shaft. A collet clamp is attached to the same cartridge.
Small models
To perform work on a miniature scale, it is convenient to use a mini drill. With your own hands, the assembled small tool is convenient to hold in your hands, it is lightweight and does not “tear off” your hands during operation.
The DPM-25 permanent magnet electric motor is taken as the basis of the considered option. They exist with different indicators and differ in rotational speed. Therefore, you can choose the appropriate option. You can also use engines -30 with other powers.
Take a piece of pipe. In this case, the part taken from the tube of the vacuum cleaner, which is narrowing (so that the engine holds better). Its length is chosen so that it is convenient to hold in hands. Next, you need a heat shrink tube (in this case, with a diameter of 32 mm). Its length should correspond to the length of the engine. The heat shrink tube must be worn over the motor. To do this, it must be heated with a hairdryer (from the center to the edges). This is done so that the engine fits tightly in the pipe. Instead, you can use electrical tape.
A hole must be made in the metal tube to extend the electrical wire. The seat can be cut out of a plastic bottle or children's soap bubbles. The wires are connected to the button (best soldered). Further, all the details come together. A step-down transformer is used as a power source.
Conclusion
A DIY machine can be made using various improvised materials. The options considered only give a general idea. A self-made machine will allow you to perform various functions. Perhaps, in its functionality, it will differ from the factory models, but it will certainly cost an order of magnitude cheaper.